Photo Credit: LinkedIn Profile Photo of Richard Thompson
Profiles
Career Highlights
Current Role
Non-Exec Chairman, M&C Saatchi Group (Apr 2021 – Present)
Chairman, M&C Saatchi Merlin (2003 – Present)
Chairman, England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) (Sep 2022 -Present)
Non-Exec Chairman, South Shore Productions Ltd (Nov 2019 -Present)
Chairman – Sport United Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Society (Jan 2020 – Present)
Previous Roles
Chairman, Surrey County Cricket Club (2011 – Aug 2022)
Chairman, Twofour Group (2014 – Oct 2019)
Chairman, People of Today – Debrett’s Limited (2012 – Jun 2018)
Bio
Richard Thompson is currently the Chairman of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), a role to which he was appointed in September 2022 for a five-year term.
Prior to being appointed as the Chairman of ECB, Thompson served Surrey County Cricket Club as Chairman from 2011 to August 2022. Doring this period he oversaw a successful period for the County on and off the field and in the Community. It was under his leadership that Surrey launched the ACE Programme in 2022, which is now an independent charity designed to engage a new generation of children and Young People from Black Communities within the recreational game and talent pathway. His expertise also helped redevelop the Kia Oval.
Thompson is also the Chairman & Founder of M&C Saatchi Talent Group. He set up the talent management agency, Merlin Elite (now M&C Saatchi Merlin) in 2003 for leading names in sport and entertainment, selling 60% stake to M&C Saatchi in 2013, and continuing to be the Chairman of M&C Saatchi Talent. There, he successfully acquired other talent agencies including Red Hare & Grey Whippet to broaden the firm’s offering into the influencer space. He was named the Non-Executive Chairman of the M&C Saatchi UK Group in April 2021.
Thompson is a serial entrepreneur, having founded three start-up businesses, all of which have been successfully acquired or floated. He has also chaired several media businesses for private equity owners, including Twofour Group from 2014 to October 2019 and the People of Today, Debrett’s Limited from 2012 to June 2018.
Thompson, is also currently the Non-Executive Chairman at South Shore Productions Ltd, where he has been since November 2019, and the Chairman at Alzheimer’s Society for Sport United Against Dementia Campaign, where he has served since January 2020.
Thompson graduated from Cheam High School.
